MAINA

MERU UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TCHNOLOGY
UNIT INTRODUCTION TO LANGUAGE

UNIT CODE: EEL 3101
REG. NO: ED203/118028/24
NAME: LUCY MAINA
TASK: WITH REFERENCES TO RELEVANT LINGUISTIC MATERIALS
EXPLAIN ANY FOUR THEORIES OF HUMAN ORIGIN LANGUAGE
INRODUCTION
The earliest known written language is believed to be Egyptian hieroglyphs, which date back
around 3200BC.from there, other forms of writing begun to emerge in areas such as
Mesopotamia and India. Over time, these writing systems began to develop into more
advanced forms of communication that would be used for trade and diplomatic relations
between countries. As communication increased between cultures new languages were
developed as well. This is believed to be one of the main reasons why there are so many
different languages spoken across the world today.
Language is a method of expressing ideas or emotions that are used and comprehend by a
group of people, and sometimes refers to the grammar, syntax, or order used for its
components (KO2016). Language is one the most basic means of communication for humans
and other creatures through different ways of conveying information, ideas and emotions.
TYPES OF THEORIES
1. BOW-WOW THEORY
This theory proposes that language evolved from animal sounds. It was first proposed by
Germany philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder in the late 18th century. According to this
theory humans, mimicked animal sounds to communicate with each other. For example, a
person may have imitated a dog’s bark to let another person know that a dog was nearby.
Over time, this animal sounds evolved into more complex language structures. One of the
advantage of this theory is its simplicity i.e its easy to understand and visualize how humans
would have evolved from animal sounds. However, this theory does not take into account the
complicity and structure that exist in modern languages i.e it fails to explain how such
complicity would have arisen from simple animal sounds.
2.THE POOH-POOH THEORY
This theory proposes that language evolved from involuntary vocalizations such as cries,
signs, and groans. This theory was first proposed by British linguistic Henry Sweet in the 19th
century. According to this theory, early humans used this vocalization to express their
emotions or intentions before they developed sophisticated languages with words and syntax
structures. Over time, this vocalization evolved into more complex structures that eventually
became modern languages. This theory has some advantages over this Bow-wow theory; for
instance, it takes into account of complicity of modern language and explains how such
complicity would have arisen from simple vocalization over time. However, it doesn’t
provide any evidence for its claims; it relies solely on speculation about what might have
happened in prehistory instead of providing concrete evidence for its assertions about the
origins of language.
3.NAOM CHOMSKY THEORY
Naom Chomsky, are renowned linguistic, developed a theory of language origin in the 1950s.
according to Noam Chomsky’s language theory, human posses an innate knowledge of the
language that is not learnt from environmental sources. Noam suggested that this knowledge
is derived from a universal grammar and embedded into our unconscious. This means that
every person has an internal ability to determine grammar, syntax, and vocabulary within any
language. No matter the native language spoken by an individual, the ability to learn and
detect new dialects and languages remains the same. Naom Chomsky’s theoretical
postulations have been influential in shedding light on the complexity of human speech
patterns and the rich diversity that exists among all linguistic systems
4.YO-He-Ho THEORY
This theory was first proposed British anthropologist Sir Edward Burnett Tylor in 1871.
According to this, theory early human languages developed from exclamations used during
manual labour tasks such as rowing boats or hauling logs. These exclamations could
eventually evolve into more complex grammatical structures as humans began using them for
other activities such as storytelling. This theory has been largely accepted by modern
linguists due to its focus on practical application rather than speculative origins. While its
impossible to know exactly when or how the first human language emerged, one thing in
certain – language has been a powerful tool for connecting people for centuries. Through
migration patterns and trade routes civilizations have grown together despite their differences
in speech or writing styles; this process has helped create an incredible variety of unique
linguistic traditions still being used today by millions of people around the world. Whether
you are speaking a local dialect or learning a foreign tongue for business purposes-
understanding how language has evolved can help one better appreciate our diverse cultural
heritage
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, there are other several theories about the origin and evolution of human
language. Among other things considered are; physical adaptations in human such as change
in teeth, lips, and the larynx as well as theories on the role of gestures and social bonding
which contribute to the ongoing debate on the evolution of language.
REFERENCES
Muller, M. (1861). Lectures on the science and language
Pinker, S, Bloom, P. (1990). Natural language and natural selection.
Jespersen. (1922). Language: Its nature, development and Origin.
Tallerman, M. (2004). Understanding syntax.
Firth, J.R(1964). The Toungues of Men and speech

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MERU UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TCHNOLOGY

UNIT INTRODUCTION TO LANGUAGE

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